Animal catcher and holder



es 112, 1195@ W. E. DHXQN 2,533,23Q

ANIMAL CATCHER AND HOLDER Filed Aug. 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I II ven tor MAL/6' Z7. D/xa/v,

eaa 12 11950 W DIXQN ANIMAL CATCHER AND HOLDER I Filed Aug. 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ipatented Dec. i2, 195% Nl'lD STATES ()FFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in animal catchers and holders, particularly for swine, and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a device of this character comprising a pair of opposed, coacting jaws for receiving the snout of the hog therebetween, a novel construction and arrangement for automatically closing said jaws when the implement is contacted with the animal and slight pressure applied thereto.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide an implement of the aforementioned character wherein the jaws will be caused to maintain a, firm grip on the snout of the animal without effort or attention on the part of the operator.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide an animal catcher and holder of the character described wherein the jaws may be readily opened for releasing the animal, and, further, when the jaws are so opened, the implement will be reset for the next operation.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an animal catching and holding device which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, cQmpact light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing, and still further objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from a study of the followin specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an animal catcher and holder constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the lower portion of the device, taken at right angles to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken sub-- stantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 2, showing the jaws open.

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the lower end portion of the device, showing the jaws closed.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that reference character I designates an elongated handle of wood or other suitable material, which handle may be of any desired length and diameter. In the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated, the handle 5 includes a reduced forward end portion 2 hav- 2; ing secured thereon a metallic sleeve 3. Adjacent the sleeve 3, the handle I has formed therein a longitudinal slot l the purpose of which will be presently set forth. Extending longitudinally into the handle 0 from the lower end thereof is a kerf 5 providing bifurcations 6.

Arms 7 have one end portion pivotally secured, as at 8, between the bifurcations 6 for swinging movement in the kerf 5. Formed integrally with the free ends of the arms I are opposed, coacting jaws 9 for receiving and gripping the snout of a ho therebetween.

The arms l are connected by a toggle [0. A plunger H is pivotally connected at one end to the toggle it]. The plunger it extends slidably into the kerf 5 and is operable between pairs of guide pins 2 l which extend between the bifurcations (5. A coil spring i2 is operatively connected to the plunger I! for actuating the toggle In past dead center and for opening the jaws 9. The ends of the coil spring l2 are engaged with washers is on the plunger I l. The lower washer l3 abuts a pin l4 which is selectively insertable in longitudinally spaced apertures i l in the plunger l I for regulating the extent of movement of the toggle Ill past dead center.

A ring I5 is slidable on the sleeve 3 and operable on the arms 1. Fixed on the sleeve 3 at an intermediate point is a collar It. A coil spring I! encircles the sleeve 3 and has one end engaged with the collar is and its other end engaged with the slip ring for swinging the arms f inwardly in a manner to close the jaws 9- when the toggle IB is broken.

A bar I 8 is operable in the slot 4 and has its end portions projecting ther from. Rods l9 connect the bar l8 to the ring l5 for retracting said ring against the tension of the coil spring l.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, for setting the jaws 9, the ring I5 is retracted against the tension of the spring I], thereby permitting the relatively weak spring I2 to move the plunger H downwardly in a manner to open the toggle It for open ng the jaws 9. When thus actuat d, the to g e m is moved past said center for retaining the jaws 9 in open position. This is shown to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings. To catch a hog, the operator manipulates the implement to cause the open jaws 9 to straddle the snout of the animal and to cause the toggle IE to contact said snout. It is now only necessary to exert sufiicient pressure against the shout of the animal to break the toggle l8 upwardly against the tension of the 3 spring l2. When the toggle I is thus broken, the relatively strong coil spring I! moves the slip ring l5 downwardly on the arms 1 for closing the jaws 9 against the tension of the spring 12. In this manner a firm grip is maintained on the snout of the animal without efiort or attention on the part of the operator. To release the animal and reset the device, the operator pulls upwardly on the bar [8 for again retracting the slip ring i5 against the tension of the spring H. The spring 12 then functions for again opening the jaws 9 through the medium of the plunger II and the toggle [9. The device is now ready for the next operation.

It is believed that the many advantages of an animal catcher and holder constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resortedto which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An animal catcher and holder comprising an elongated handle having a bifurcated end to provide a bearing slot and formed with a longitudinal slot spaced from said bearing slot and extending in the same plane therewith, a pair of coacting jaws having shank portions terminally and pivotally mounted upon said handle within said bearing slot, interconnected toggle links pivotally and terminally connected to and between intermediate portions of said jaws, horizontally and vertically spaced guide pins disposed transversely of said bearing slot, a jaw operating plunger pivotally connected with the interconnected ends of said toggle links slidably disposed within said bearing slot between said guide pins, a coil spring within said bearing slot and disposed about said plunger having one end of the spring fixed relative to the handle and the other end of the spring operatively connected to said plunger, a slip ring disposed about said shank portions of said jaws being slidable on said handle, a manually operated bar mounted transversel through said longitudinal slot for longitudinal movement, parallel connecting rods between said bar and slip ring, a reinforcing sleeve about said handle adjacent the bight end of said bearing slot, a radially extending collar fixed to and about said D sleeve, and a relatively heavy jaw closing coil spring disposed about said handle between said collar and slip ring.

2. An animal catcher and holder comprising an elongated handle having a bifurcated end to provide a bearing slot and formed with a longitudinal slot spaced from said bearing slot and extending in the same plane therewith, a pair of coacting jaws having shank portions terminally and pivotally mounted upon said handle within said bearing slot, interconnected toggle links pivotally and terminally connected to and between intermediate portions of said jaws, horizontally and vertically spaced guide pins disposed transversely of said bearing slot, a jaw opening plunger pivotally connected with the interconnected ends of said toggle links slidably disposed within said bearing slot between said guide pins, a coil spring within said bearing slot and disposed about said plunger having one end of the spring fixed relative to the handle and the other nd of the spring operatively connected to said plunger, means for variably regulating and adjusting the tension of said spring upon said plunger, a slip ring disposed about said shank portions of said jaws being slidable on said handle, a manually operated bar mounted transversely through said longitudinal slot for longitudinal movement, parallel connecting rods between said bar and slip ring, a reinforcing sleeve about said handle adjacent the bight end of said bearing slot, a radially extending collar fixed to and about said sleeve, and a relatively heav jaw closing coil spring disposed about said handle between said ccllar and said slip ring.

WILLIS E. DIXON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 80,350 Hoffman July 28, 1868 714,170 Generaux Nov. 25, 1902 1,018,065 Marble Feb. 20, 1912 1,039,737 Hester Oct. 1, 1912 1,463,175 Rasmussen July 31, 1923 1,706,332 Theriot Mar. 19, 1929 1,810,753 Brown June 16, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 266 Great Britain Jan. 22, 1879 

